Summary"The ERC-funded project CRYTERION has a goal of scaling up simulations and computations with trapped ions. One possible route for this is the use of a 2D array of ion traps. During the development of these 2D arrays, a novel method of being able to address the interactions was conceived, allowing addressing of individual ions and nearest-neighbour interactions between
ions in the array. A patent has been granted on the design and the ERC-POC grant is being applied for so as to develop an implementation with the goal of licensing the patent.
Technical tests of this idea with calcium ions have been performed on a mesoscale array of ion traps. Basic ideas for creating micro-scale traps are under investigation. We propose that this micro-array concept be developed, to the point where traps can be provided to potential customers for evaluation.
Besides the technical realization of the POC it is necessary to analyse the market, i.e. identify customers as well as producers and develop a strategy for how to target these two groups successfully"

"The ERC-funded project CRYTERION has a goal of scaling up simulations and computations with trapped ions. One possible route for this is the use of a 2D array of ion traps. During the development of these 2D arrays, a novel method of being able to address the interactions was conceived, allowing addressing of individual ions and nearest-neighbour interactions between
ions in the array. A patent has been granted on the design and the ERC-POC grant is being applied for so as to develop an implementation with the goal of licensing the patent.
Technical tests of this idea with calcium ions have been performed on a mesoscale array of ion traps. Basic ideas for creating micro-scale traps are under investigation. We propose that this micro-array concept be developed, to the point where traps can be provided to potential customers for evaluation.
Besides the technical realization of the POC it is necessary to analyse the market, i.e. identify customers as well as producers and develop a strategy for how to target these two groups successfully"

Host Institution (HI)UNIVERSITY COLLEGE DUBLIN, NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND, DUBLIN

Call DetailsProof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2012-PoC

SummaryWe have recently discovered a series of carbene iridium complexes that are highly active in water oxidation catalysis (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 9765, see also picture). As the water oxidation half-cycle is the demanding (and thus far prohibitive) step when splitting water to oxygen and hydrogen, these iridium complexes hold great potential for the generation of hydrogen as fuel from renewable, non-fossil sources. A key component for the efficient water oxidation appears to be the mesoionic carbene ligand, which is non-innocent and capable of assisting in proton-coupled electron transfer processes.
Within this proof-of-concept project we now aim at evaluating a range of factors that will be pivotal to move this fundamentally interesting reactivity pattern into a prototypical device for energy generation. The principal goal thus consists of establishing the viability and to address technical issues and overall directions for using carbene iridium complexes in energy conversion processes. Clarification of intellectual property rights and deciding on an appropriate patent/licensing strategy constitutes a primary subaim. A specific and critical point to be addressed pertains to the robustness and activity of the catalyst in order to warrant the costs for using a precious metal in energy conversion and storage processes. Optimized catalysts will thus be essential, and will be combined with a photo-absorbing semiconductor as water reduction catalyst to accomplish full water splitting in a single, eventually light-driven device. In parallel, industrial contacts will be sought to identify domains for application of the catalytic device, in which longevity will be among the key criteria.

We have recently discovered a series of carbene iridium complexes that are highly active in water oxidation catalysis (Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. 2010, 49, 9765, see also picture). As the water oxidation half-cycle is the demanding (and thus far prohibitive) step when splitting water to oxygen and hydrogen, these iridium complexes hold great potential for the generation of hydrogen as fuel from renewable, non-fossil sources. A key component for the efficient water oxidation appears to be the mesoionic carbene ligand, which is non-innocent and capable of assisting in proton-coupled electron transfer processes.
Within this proof-of-concept project we now aim at evaluating a range of factors that will be pivotal to move this fundamentally interesting reactivity pattern into a prototypical device for energy generation. The principal goal thus consists of establishing the viability and to address technical issues and overall directions for using carbene iridium complexes in energy conversion processes. Clarification of intellectual property rights and deciding on an appropriate patent/licensing strategy constitutes a primary subaim. A specific and critical point to be addressed pertains to the robustness and activity of the catalyst in order to warrant the costs for using a precious metal in energy conversion and storage processes. Optimized catalysts will thus be essential, and will be combined with a photo-absorbing semiconductor as water reduction catalyst to accomplish full water splitting in a single, eventually light-driven device. In parallel, industrial contacts will be sought to identify domains for application of the catalytic device, in which longevity will be among the key criteria.

Max ERC Funding

136 076 €

Duration

Start date: 2012-10-01, End date: 2013-09-30

Project acronymCarbon Heaters

ProjectNext-generation of high performance, ultra-light carbon nanotube based heaters

Researcher (PI)Krzysztof Kazimierz Koziol

Host Institution (HI)THE CHANCELLOR MASTERS AND SCHOLARS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Call DetailsProof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2014-PoC

SummaryWe have created a high performance, ultra-light and ultra strong carbon nanotube (CNT) film electrical heaters. Compared to traditional heating materials, they are super fast (reach the terminal temperature in less than (1/4s), lighter (100x), resistant to corrosion (concentrated acids do not affect them) and cheaper (a fraction of the cost). The heaters are fully scalable from nano-sized devices to full size applications on commercial aircrafts. Previous experiments involved a range of material sizes, from transformations on a molecular level to rapid de-icing of a model aircraft . The performance of the heaters revealed a
12,000,000% advantage by weight over the current most common heating alternative: resistive wires made of nickelchromium
alloy. In this proposal, we show how this invention could alleviate the problem of aircraft de-icing.

We have created a high performance, ultra-light and ultra strong carbon nanotube (CNT) film electrical heaters. Compared to traditional heating materials, they are super fast (reach the terminal temperature in less than (1/4s), lighter (100x), resistant to corrosion (concentrated acids do not affect them) and cheaper (a fraction of the cost). The heaters are fully scalable from nano-sized devices to full size applications on commercial aircrafts. Previous experiments involved a range of material sizes, from transformations on a molecular level to rapid de-icing of a model aircraft . The performance of the heaters revealed a
12,000,000% advantage by weight over the current most common heating alternative: resistive wires made of nickelchromium
alloy. In this proposal, we show how this invention could alleviate the problem of aircraft de-icing.

SummaryMaterials with excellent diffusion barrier properties are highly relevant for packaging applications (food, pharmaceutics), sealing (car tires), protective encapsulation (microelectronics, photovoltaics, displays), and anticorrosive coatings (automotive). In all these fields of application, there is a strong technological demand for more effective, less costly, and environmentally benign solutions, which constitutes a significant business opportunity. The proposed project aims to develop novel barrier layers and anticorrosive coatings based on functionalized carbon nanosheets that are prepared from reactive, carbon-rich molecular precursors with chemical functional groups that provide surface-specific binding and adhesion. These materials combine the excellent barrier and anticorrosive properties of atomically dense carbon or inorganic thin film coatings with the tailored surface properties of monolayer coatings. Moreover, their preparation will be compatible with scalable and inexpensive solution-phase processing methods such as painting, spraying, or printing, followed by UV curing. The goal of the proposed project is to provide technology demonstrators for a diffusion barrier layer aimed at packaging applications, as well as for a wear-resistant, anti-corrosive coating on a metal surface.

Materials with excellent diffusion barrier properties are highly relevant for packaging applications (food, pharmaceutics), sealing (car tires), protective encapsulation (microelectronics, photovoltaics, displays), and anticorrosive coatings (automotive). In all these fields of application, there is a strong technological demand for more effective, less costly, and environmentally benign solutions, which constitutes a significant business opportunity. The proposed project aims to develop novel barrier layers and anticorrosive coatings based on functionalized carbon nanosheets that are prepared from reactive, carbon-rich molecular precursors with chemical functional groups that provide surface-specific binding and adhesion. These materials combine the excellent barrier and anticorrosive properties of atomically dense carbon or inorganic thin film coatings with the tailored surface properties of monolayer coatings. Moreover, their preparation will be compatible with scalable and inexpensive solution-phase processing methods such as painting, spraying, or printing, followed by UV curing. The goal of the proposed project is to provide technology demonstrators for a diffusion barrier layer aimed at packaging applications, as well as for a wear-resistant, anti-corrosive coating on a metal surface.

SummaryThe CO2Volc project (ERC n.279802) has produced an active remote sensing instrument based on the differential absorption LIDAR principle, called CO2DIAL. It is designed to measure column averaged CO2 concentrations for path lengths between 500 and 2000 m. A key advantage over other open-path techniques is that no retroreflector or separate active source is required for fence-line monitoring. It therefore fills a key operational gap in CO2 sensing technologies. In addition, through a laser replacement, the instrument can be used to measure also CH4, allowing both main carbon gas species to be quantified, and producing the name of this project, CarbSens. An affordable greenhouse gas (GHG) sensing platform with spatial coverage of 2000 m that fits into a backpack, can be mounted on an aircraft, car, mast or even a drone would have a wide variety of commercially attractive applications. These include efficient monitoring of CO2 leakage from CO2 storage sites or urban traffic, quantification of fugitive CH4 upon hydraulic fracturing (fracking), CH4 leakage from pipelines or biogas tanks, or refining regional GHG budgets for improved climate modeling. A system with the features of the CO2DIAL is not commercially available. We believe that our technology has the potential to create a new market for affordable, man-portable remote gas sensors, and carbon quantification services. In the initial project phase we will define an adequate commercialization strategy, focusing on user groups in the hydrocarbon and carbon sequestration industries. A commercial prototype will then be derived from the CO2DIAL. A focus will be to make the system affordable (<40 k€) and even more compact and lightweight (< 10 kg) to arrive at an instrument that is suitable for a large group of users. The final goal of the proposal is to produce a portfolio consisting of a working commercial prototype and a marketing strategy, including either secured licensing or the initiation of a spin-out company.

The CO2Volc project (ERC n.279802) has produced an active remote sensing instrument based on the differential absorption LIDAR principle, called CO2DIAL. It is designed to measure column averaged CO2 concentrations for path lengths between 500 and 2000 m. A key advantage over other open-path techniques is that no retroreflector or separate active source is required for fence-line monitoring. It therefore fills a key operational gap in CO2 sensing technologies. In addition, through a laser replacement, the instrument can be used to measure also CH4, allowing both main carbon gas species to be quantified, and producing the name of this project, CarbSens. An affordable greenhouse gas (GHG) sensing platform with spatial coverage of 2000 m that fits into a backpack, can be mounted on an aircraft, car, mast or even a drone would have a wide variety of commercially attractive applications. These include efficient monitoring of CO2 leakage from CO2 storage sites or urban traffic, quantification of fugitive CH4 upon hydraulic fracturing (fracking), CH4 leakage from pipelines or biogas tanks, or refining regional GHG budgets for improved climate modeling. A system with the features of the CO2DIAL is not commercially available. We believe that our technology has the potential to create a new market for affordable, man-portable remote gas sensors, and carbon quantification services. In the initial project phase we will define an adequate commercialization strategy, focusing on user groups in the hydrocarbon and carbon sequestration industries. A commercial prototype will then be derived from the CO2DIAL. A focus will be to make the system affordable (<40 k€) and even more compact and lightweight (< 10 kg) to arrive at an instrument that is suitable for a large group of users. The final goal of the proposal is to produce a portfolio consisting of a working commercial prototype and a marketing strategy, including either secured licensing or the initiation of a spin-out company.

Max ERC Funding

149 817 €

Duration

Start date: 2017-01-01, End date: 2018-06-30

Project acronymCARPE

ProjectCompliant Actuation Robotic Platform for Flexible Endoscopy

Researcher (PI)Alfred Cuschieri

Host Institution (HI)UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE

Call DetailsProof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2014-PoC

SummaryProf Alfred Cuschieri, the overall coordinator of ERC grant Colonic Disease Investigation by Robotic Hydro-colonoscopy (CODIR - grant agreement 268519) has recently submitted the mid-term scientific report on behalf of the two participating Universities (Dundee and Leeds), which highlights several novel IPR (intellectual property rights) issues resulting from the CODIR research, which are pertinent to robotic flexible endoscopy. One of these is based on the ‘active tether robot’ (ATR) idea for the provision of snake like locomotion; i.e., instead of the locomotive power for the active colonoscope being supplied to the back of the robot via a power cable, the design is turned on its head, and replaced by a motile segmented ‘active tether’, which is itself an endoscope, and which can operate in both a gas and aqueous environment. The platform is based on a Mini Compliant Joint (MCJ), with two degree of freedoms (DoFs) using Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires as actuators and torsional springs, a synergistic combination which increases the energy efficiency and mechanical bandwidth performance; and at the same time, reduces heat production and stress on the SMA wires. The MJCs actuates by current-induced contraction of SMA wires, two hollow articulating rings with 2 DoFs. As the rings have intersecting axes, the two torsional springs provide roll and pitch. Such a chain of active MCJs provides sinusoidal motor-less locomotion. In essence, CARPE is a generic modular system (capable of translation into any type of flexible endoscope in current clinical use) consisting of independent segments (much like a biomimetic vertebral column), mechanics and electronics. The big advance of CARPE, when used to construct a colonoscope over the current equivalent endoscope, is that once, the end of the CARPE colonoscope is inserted through the anus, it would travel by its intrinsic snake-like locomotion to the caecum.

Prof Alfred Cuschieri, the overall coordinator of ERC grant Colonic Disease Investigation by Robotic Hydro-colonoscopy (CODIR - grant agreement 268519) has recently submitted the mid-term scientific report on behalf of the two participating Universities (Dundee and Leeds), which highlights several novel IPR (intellectual property rights) issues resulting from the CODIR research, which are pertinent to robotic flexible endoscopy. One of these is based on the ‘active tether robot’ (ATR) idea for the provision of snake like locomotion; i.e., instead of the locomotive power for the active colonoscope being supplied to the back of the robot via a power cable, the design is turned on its head, and replaced by a motile segmented ‘active tether’, which is itself an endoscope, and which can operate in both a gas and aqueous environment. The platform is based on a Mini Compliant Joint (MCJ), with two degree of freedoms (DoFs) using Shape Memory Alloy (SMA) wires as actuators and torsional springs, a synergistic combination which increases the energy efficiency and mechanical bandwidth performance; and at the same time, reduces heat production and stress on the SMA wires. The MJCs actuates by current-induced contraction of SMA wires, two hollow articulating rings with 2 DoFs. As the rings have intersecting axes, the two torsional springs provide roll and pitch. Such a chain of active MCJs provides sinusoidal motor-less locomotion. In essence, CARPE is a generic modular system (capable of translation into any type of flexible endoscope in current clinical use) consisting of independent segments (much like a biomimetic vertebral column), mechanics and electronics. The big advance of CARPE, when used to construct a colonoscope over the current equivalent endoscope, is that once, the end of the CARPE colonoscope is inserted through the anus, it would travel by its intrinsic snake-like locomotion to the caecum.

Max ERC Funding

150 000 €

Duration

Start date: 2015-07-01, End date: 2016-12-31

Project acronymCARTOFF

ProjectUltrasensitive Cartography of vectorial Force Fields at the nanoscale

SummaryThis project aims at developing and disseminating a new class of ultrasensitive and vectorial force field sensors to build the next generation of scanning probes with improved sensitivity and vectorial readout capacity. The vibrations of a singly clamped silicon carbide nanowire (NW) are readout by optical techniques. Its vibrating extremity oscillates in both transverse directions with quasi-degenerated frequencies due to its quasi-cylindrical geometry. When approaching the NW above a sample surface it experiences an additional force field due to the sample-NW interaction which modifies its mechanical properties. The force field can be fully derived by monitoring frequency shifts and eigenmode rotations. The measurement principle was demonstrated during the HQNOM ERC project by monitoring the perturbation of the NW Brownian motion, its random thermal noise in 2D induced by a voltage biased electrostatic tip. An impressive sensitivity to force field gradients varying by less than 1e-18N over the nanometer sized Brownian motion was demonstrated, as well as a fully vectorial readout capacity which is unaccessible to existing 1D force probes. This vectorial sensitivity, combined with the one-millon-fold improvement in force sensitivity over commercial atomic force microscopes is the starting point of the POC project. The objective is to ensure a wide dissemination of this extraordinary vectorial force field sensors and to progress towards an industrial outreach of the apparatus. To do so, a demonstration prototype will be developed and will serve as a workhorse for the second step, the dissemination phase of the apparatus towards a broader scientific and industrial community.

This project aims at developing and disseminating a new class of ultrasensitive and vectorial force field sensors to build the next generation of scanning probes with improved sensitivity and vectorial readout capacity. The vibrations of a singly clamped silicon carbide nanowire (NW) are readout by optical techniques. Its vibrating extremity oscillates in both transverse directions with quasi-degenerated frequencies due to its quasi-cylindrical geometry. When approaching the NW above a sample surface it experiences an additional force field due to the sample-NW interaction which modifies its mechanical properties. The force field can be fully derived by monitoring frequency shifts and eigenmode rotations. The measurement principle was demonstrated during the HQNOM ERC project by monitoring the perturbation of the NW Brownian motion, its random thermal noise in 2D induced by a voltage biased electrostatic tip. An impressive sensitivity to force field gradients varying by less than 1e-18N over the nanometer sized Brownian motion was demonstrated, as well as a fully vectorial readout capacity which is unaccessible to existing 1D force probes. This vectorial sensitivity, combined with the one-millon-fold improvement in force sensitivity over commercial atomic force microscopes is the starting point of the POC project. The objective is to ensure a wide dissemination of this extraordinary vectorial force field sensors and to progress towards an industrial outreach of the apparatus. To do so, a demonstration prototype will be developed and will serve as a workhorse for the second step, the dissemination phase of the apparatus towards a broader scientific and industrial community.

Max ERC Funding

150 000 €

Duration

Start date: 2017-11-01, End date: 2019-04-30

Project acronymCatalApp

ProjectCopper Catalysis Applications

Researcher (PI)Xavier RIBAS SALAMANA

Host Institution (HI)UNIVERSITAT DE GIRONA

Call DetailsProof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2015-PoC

SummaryAn innovative methodology has been developed in the field of copper-catalyzed cross coupling catalysis, with the goal of developing more efficient and sustainable synthetic protocols used by Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries.
Successful research developed within the ERC-2011-StG-277801 project has led to discover new methodologies for sustainable catalytic transformations using copper catalysts to form C-C or C-heteroatom bonds, finding out the feasibility of uncommon copper(III) species as key intermediates. This new methodology features three main advantages: a) Precise design of the auxiliary ligands used in these transformations is a pathway of a more sustainable reactivity; b) competitive alternative to the price and toxicity disadvantages of Pd-based catalysts; and c) it can impart distinct selectivity that will broaden the scope of synthetic tools.
The goal of the present CatalApp project is to study the feasibility of bringing this technology into a pre-commercial stage, with the aim of accelerating the access to the market of this new methodology. The pre-commercial stage will be orientated into:
1) A technical perspective that will be achieved by scaling-up current gram-scale methodologies to kilogram scale procedures.
2) An Economic and legal perspective, which include an analysis of Intellectual Property (IP) protection needs, evaluation of patent filling procedures required to provide an adequate protection of the different developed methodologies, a market study to identify specific potential uses of these synthetic tools, and a review of potential commercialisation partners.
The expected outcomes of the PoC project will be the commercial availability of a portfolio of synthetic methodologies based on Copper, designed for specific applications. The strive of the CatalApp PoC project is making available these new methodologies in response to the demand of the industry and investors in order to ensure its results will be exploited successfully.

An innovative methodology has been developed in the field of copper-catalyzed cross coupling catalysis, with the goal of developing more efficient and sustainable synthetic protocols used by Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industries.
Successful research developed within the ERC-2011-StG-277801 project has led to discover new methodologies for sustainable catalytic transformations using copper catalysts to form C-C or C-heteroatom bonds, finding out the feasibility of uncommon copper(III) species as key intermediates. This new methodology features three main advantages: a) Precise design of the auxiliary ligands used in these transformations is a pathway of a more sustainable reactivity; b) competitive alternative to the price and toxicity disadvantages of Pd-based catalysts; and c) it can impart distinct selectivity that will broaden the scope of synthetic tools.
The goal of the present CatalApp project is to study the feasibility of bringing this technology into a pre-commercial stage, with the aim of accelerating the access to the market of this new methodology. The pre-commercial stage will be orientated into:
1) A technical perspective that will be achieved by scaling-up current gram-scale methodologies to kilogram scale procedures.
2) An Economic and legal perspective, which include an analysis of Intellectual Property (IP) protection needs, evaluation of patent filling procedures required to provide an adequate protection of the different developed methodologies, a market study to identify specific potential uses of these synthetic tools, and a review of potential commercialisation partners.
The expected outcomes of the PoC project will be the commercial availability of a portfolio of synthetic methodologies based on Copper, designed for specific applications. The strive of the CatalApp PoC project is making available these new methodologies in response to the demand of the industry and investors in order to ensure its results will be exploited successfully.

SummaryThe Proof of Concept CATALOG will explore the industrial applicability and potential for commercialization of a prototype of a “computational multiscale material catalog”, to exploit HPROM (high‐performance reduced order modeling), a technology developed in the ERC Advanced Grant COMP-DES-MAT for advanced material simulation. CATALOG will provide extremely fast and accurate multiscale capabilities to existing commercial Finite Element Analysis Solvers (FEAS), greatly enhancing their standard simulation performance. This solution effectively addresses the current need for high-performance simulations, currently not provided by established multiscale approaches.
The efficient and accurate material multiscale simulation technology HPROM —core technology behind CATALOG— is capable of outperforming state-of-the-art solutions by 1000x in computational cost at same precision. This software will provide the user with a rich selection of validated multiscale material models, and customizable accuracy-speedup, at unprecedented performance. CATALOG will be the first product able to fulfill the industrial requirement for time, accuracy and offer of models, enabling a new set of routine analysis in currently available FEAS.
Presented as a plugin—noninvasive and adaptable to most popular commercial FEAS tools—the computational techniques used in CATALOG will be welcomed by the manufacturing sectors that heavily depend on detailed material simulations for design and analysis of new materials and optimization of production processes.

The Proof of Concept CATALOG will explore the industrial applicability and potential for commercialization of a prototype of a “computational multiscale material catalog”, to exploit HPROM (high‐performance reduced order modeling), a technology developed in the ERC Advanced Grant COMP-DES-MAT for advanced material simulation. CATALOG will provide extremely fast and accurate multiscale capabilities to existing commercial Finite Element Analysis Solvers (FEAS), greatly enhancing their standard simulation performance. This solution effectively addresses the current need for high-performance simulations, currently not provided by established multiscale approaches.
The efficient and accurate material multiscale simulation technology HPROM —core technology behind CATALOG— is capable of outperforming state-of-the-art solutions by 1000x in computational cost at same precision. This software will provide the user with a rich selection of validated multiscale material models, and customizable accuracy-speedup, at unprecedented performance. CATALOG will be the first product able to fulfill the industrial requirement for time, accuracy and offer of models, enabling a new set of routine analysis in currently available FEAS.
Presented as a plugin—noninvasive and adaptable to most popular commercial FEAS tools—the computational techniques used in CATALOG will be welcomed by the manufacturing sectors that heavily depend on detailed material simulations for design and analysis of new materials and optimization of production processes.

Max ERC Funding

149 991 €

Duration

Start date: 2018-01-01, End date: 2019-06-30

Project acronymCATALYTICBIOSENSING

ProjectSignal Amplified Biosensing by Chemical Catalysis

Researcher (PI)Andreas HERRMANN

Host Institution (HI)RIJKSUNIVERSITEIT GRONINGEN

Call DetailsProof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2011-PoC

SummaryIn this project we will develop a broadly applicable signal amplification system that relies on chemical catalysis for biosensing purposes. In preliminary experiments it was demonstrated that the functionalization of two oligonucleotides with triphenyl phosphine ligands and their hybridization on a target DNA strand produced a very efficient catalyst for the dehalogenation of an iodinated boron dipyrromethane (BODIPY) dye. The removal of the iodine transforms the non-fluorescent chromophore into a highly fluorescent dye. In this way, a single hybridization event results in more than 1000 fluorescent reporters and extremely low detection limits of 10 fM were successfully realized. Herein it is planned to extend this concept of signal amplification to commercially relevant technologies like Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) or DNA microarrays. For that purpose different ligands will be synthesized and the reactivity as well as the spectral range of the BODIPY reporters will be varied. These experimental efforts, therefore, represent a broadening of our existing proof of concept experiments.
Besides this experimental work, we will write up a business plan to commercialize our technology and receive further funding like seed grants or venture capital. There is a strong need in the in vitro diagnostic industry to fabricate improved analytical tests to detect new disease markers at low concentrations. With the catalytic signal amplification system several of these needs can be fulfilled. Due to the broad applicability of our technology platform it is envisioned to found a spin-off company that acts as service provider for the diagnostic industry.

In this project we will develop a broadly applicable signal amplification system that relies on chemical catalysis for biosensing purposes. In preliminary experiments it was demonstrated that the functionalization of two oligonucleotides with triphenyl phosphine ligands and their hybridization on a target DNA strand produced a very efficient catalyst for the dehalogenation of an iodinated boron dipyrromethane (BODIPY) dye. The removal of the iodine transforms the non-fluorescent chromophore into a highly fluorescent dye. In this way, a single hybridization event results in more than 1000 fluorescent reporters and extremely low detection limits of 10 fM were successfully realized. Herein it is planned to extend this concept of signal amplification to commercially relevant technologies like Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assays (ELISAs) or DNA microarrays. For that purpose different ligands will be synthesized and the reactivity as well as the spectral range of the BODIPY reporters will be varied. These experimental efforts, therefore, represent a broadening of our existing proof of concept experiments.
Besides this experimental work, we will write up a business plan to commercialize our technology and receive further funding like seed grants or venture capital. There is a strong need in the in vitro diagnostic industry to fabricate improved analytical tests to detect new disease markers at low concentrations. With the catalytic signal amplification system several of these needs can be fulfilled. Due to the broad applicability of our technology platform it is envisioned to found a spin-off company that acts as service provider for the diagnostic industry.

SummaryAcute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating condition, which kills 40% of sufferers, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide annually. Despite decades of intensive research efforts, there are no clinical therapeutic strategies available for this catastrophic condition. In our ERC Starter Grant, HA-NFkB-VILI, we have shown Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) to be beneficial in several relevant preclinical ARDS models.
However, for cell therapies to be successfully used in the clinic, they will need to be sourced allogeneically, culture passaged and cryofrozen for transport to the clinical site, where they can then thawed near the bedside and administered to the patient with ARDS.
This project will therefore examine the potential of cryofrozen human MSCs, manufactured at the CCMI cell therapy facility at NUI Galway, in relevant models of ARDS.
A demonstration that the cryofrozen CCMI-hMSC exhibit therapeutic potential would be a major step towards the clinical testing of these cells in patients with this devastating disease.

Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is a devastating condition, which kills 40% of sufferers, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide annually. Despite decades of intensive research efforts, there are no clinical therapeutic strategies available for this catastrophic condition. In our ERC Starter Grant, HA-NFkB-VILI, we have shown Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) to be beneficial in several relevant preclinical ARDS models.
However, for cell therapies to be successfully used in the clinic, they will need to be sourced allogeneically, culture passaged and cryofrozen for transport to the clinical site, where they can then thawed near the bedside and administered to the patient with ARDS.
This project will therefore examine the potential of cryofrozen human MSCs, manufactured at the CCMI cell therapy facility at NUI Galway, in relevant models of ARDS.
A demonstration that the cryofrozen CCMI-hMSC exhibit therapeutic potential would be a major step towards the clinical testing of these cells in patients with this devastating disease.

Max ERC Funding

149 101 €

Duration

Start date: 2015-01-01, End date: 2015-12-31

Project acronymCellphmed

ProjectAccurate cell signatures for the advancement of personalized medicine

Researcher (PI)Didier Trono

Host Institution (HI)ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE FEDERALE DE LAUSANNE

Call DetailsProof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2016-PoC

SummaryPatient/individual specific cells, including induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells will be crucial in defining tomorrow’s medicine owing to their uses in drug discovery, immunotherapy or cell therapy. These clinical applications require the utmost accurate and reliable identity and purity testing, however, the majority of cells stored worldwide fall short of a sufficient level of characterisation. This project aims at validatating and commercializing an innovative method of diagnostic and quality control for human cells. It is based on our unprecedented ability to measure the expression of millions of uncharted RNA biomarkers called TEs, genetic units that contribute over 50% of the genome but that have been completely disregarded until very recently, mainly due to the challenge imposed by their complex analysis. Our new methodology provides a high-density barcode of cellular identity, opening the door for individual-specific cells to broad applications in biotechnology and medicine alike.

Patient/individual specific cells, including induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells will be crucial in defining tomorrow’s medicine owing to their uses in drug discovery, immunotherapy or cell therapy. These clinical applications require the utmost accurate and reliable identity and purity testing, however, the majority of cells stored worldwide fall short of a sufficient level of characterisation. This project aims at validatating and commercializing an innovative method of diagnostic and quality control for human cells. It is based on our unprecedented ability to measure the expression of millions of uncharted RNA biomarkers called TEs, genetic units that contribute over 50% of the genome but that have been completely disregarded until very recently, mainly due to the challenge imposed by their complex analysis. Our new methodology provides a high-density barcode of cellular identity, opening the door for individual-specific cells to broad applications in biotechnology and medicine alike.

SummaryThe goal of this ERC-PoC project is to develop a prototype system that will enable the addition of libraries of drugs and biochemical molecules, reagents and cells from a 96 source plate directly to individual compartments of the target Droplet Microarray (DMA). The system should have controlled atmosphere (CO2, humidity, temperature) and should allow for dispensing controlled volumes (3-500 nL per experiment) and cell numbers (1-100 per experiment) into individual droplets. We aim to create and evaluate this system for applications commonly performed in pharmaceutical companies and screening centers to enable them to perform miniaturized and more predictive high throughput screenings using physiologically relevant cells such as primary cells, stem cells, biopsy-derived cells and other scarce cell types. The system should allow high-throughput screenings with patient derived cells and therefore will open new possibilities in drug discovery and personalized medicine.

The goal of this ERC-PoC project is to develop a prototype system that will enable the addition of libraries of drugs and biochemical molecules, reagents and cells from a 96 source plate directly to individual compartments of the target Droplet Microarray (DMA). The system should have controlled atmosphere (CO2, humidity, temperature) and should allow for dispensing controlled volumes (3-500 nL per experiment) and cell numbers (1-100 per experiment) into individual droplets. We aim to create and evaluate this system for applications commonly performed in pharmaceutical companies and screening centers to enable them to perform miniaturized and more predictive high throughput screenings using physiologically relevant cells such as primary cells, stem cells, biopsy-derived cells and other scarce cell types. The system should allow high-throughput screenings with patient derived cells and therefore will open new possibilities in drug discovery and personalized medicine.

SummaryExperiments with live cells are fundamentally important in biology, pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology or in medicine and diagnostics. One important example of cell experiments is the prescreening of cells from cancer biopsies with anticancer drugs in order to identify the most effective and least toxic combination of drugs for a particular patient also known as personalized medicine.
The goal of this ERC Proof-of-Concept project is to develop, fabricate and optimize a device (CellScreenChip) for performing miniaturized, parallel and, therefore, more affordable and faster cell screening experiments for the areas of diagnostics and personalized medicine. Applications of the CellScreenChip include (but not limited to) cell based disease diagnosis (e.g. cancer diagnostics), drug screening (e.g. body on a chip) or personalized medicine (e.g. personalized drug compatibility tests). The CellScreenChip will be based on our recent development of the superhydrophobic-superhydrophilic micropatterning methods and the ability to create high-density arrays of droplet microreservoirs on superhydrophobic-superhydrophilic patterns that can be used for parallelized and miniaturized cell experiments.

Experiments with live cells are fundamentally important in biology, pharmaceutical industry, biotechnology or in medicine and diagnostics. One important example of cell experiments is the prescreening of cells from cancer biopsies with anticancer drugs in order to identify the most effective and least toxic combination of drugs for a particular patient also known as personalized medicine.
The goal of this ERC Proof-of-Concept project is to develop, fabricate and optimize a device (CellScreenChip) for performing miniaturized, parallel and, therefore, more affordable and faster cell screening experiments for the areas of diagnostics and personalized medicine. Applications of the CellScreenChip include (but not limited to) cell based disease diagnosis (e.g. cancer diagnostics), drug screening (e.g. body on a chip) or personalized medicine (e.g. personalized drug compatibility tests). The CellScreenChip will be based on our recent development of the superhydrophobic-superhydrophilic micropatterning methods and the ability to create high-density arrays of droplet microreservoirs on superhydrophobic-superhydrophilic patterns that can be used for parallelized and miniaturized cell experiments.

SummaryChemotherapy, often given in conjunction with other therapies is infamous for its off target associated side effects. Recent studies have shown that drugs combinations can act synergistically at certain ratios and are more effective and less toxic than single drug therapies. Despite promising in vitro results, combination drug therapy for Oncology has not been successfully translated to the clinic due to lack of efficient delivery systems that can maintain the desired synergistic drug concentrations in the body as each drug has a different pharmacokinetics and toxicity profile. The objective of this project is to develop a universal platform for simultaneous delivery of multiple drugs to specific cells in vivo using a protein cage that was developed in our laboratory for encapsulation of diverse cargoes.

Chemotherapy, often given in conjunction with other therapies is infamous for its off target associated side effects. Recent studies have shown that drugs combinations can act synergistically at certain ratios and are more effective and less toxic than single drug therapies. Despite promising in vitro results, combination drug therapy for Oncology has not been successfully translated to the clinic due to lack of efficient delivery systems that can maintain the desired synergistic drug concentrations in the body as each drug has a different pharmacokinetics and toxicity profile. The objective of this project is to develop a universal platform for simultaneous delivery of multiple drugs to specific cells in vivo using a protein cage that was developed in our laboratory for encapsulation of diverse cargoes.

Max ERC Funding

150 000 €

Duration

Start date: 2017-11-01, End date: 2019-04-30

Project acronymCHANNELMAT

ProjectMicrochannels for controlling cellular mechanotransduction

Researcher (PI)Christine Johanna Maria SELHUBER-UNKEL

Host Institution (HI)CHRISTIAN-ALBRECHTS-UNIVERSITAET ZU KIEL

Call DetailsProof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2017-PoC

SummaryCells respond to external mechanical stimuli through an activation of a cellular mechanism called mechanotransduction. The cellular responses in this mechanism are expressed by a modification in cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation, as well as in a strengthening of their adhesion. Likewise, diseases such as cancer and cardiac dysfunctions are also related to cellular mechanotransduction. Here we propose to take a novel 3D material porous material towards commercial applications. The material serves as a platform for controlling mechanotransduction (e.g. in implant materials) and enables a control of mechanotransduction by mimicking natural 3D cellular environments. Our material contains a novel form of microporous structures represented by micron-sized channels embedded in a polymer matrix of a well-defined stiffness that has been developed within the ERC project CELLINSPIRED. The material guarantees pore interconnectivity independently of pore density and size, a unique feature offered by our fabrication procedure, for which we have applied for a patent (EP 15166793.8, PCT/EP2016/060160). Furthermore, it also provides a large, three-dimensionally controlled cell-surface contact area, such that the mechanical properties of the environment will have large impact on the cells. Our goal in this project is to validate our novel material for cellular applications where mechanotransduction is targeted. The expected outcome of our project is to receive a demonstrator material that (1) has well-defined mechanical properties, porosities and pore dimensions, (2) is biocompatible and can be sterilized, (3) can be fabricated in different levels of complexity, (4) can activate mechanotransduction in cells, and (5) can be fabricated using high-throughput processes. As for commercialization, we aim to license the patent to biomaterials companies involved in applications that range from 3D cell cultures to implant materials.

Cells respond to external mechanical stimuli through an activation of a cellular mechanism called mechanotransduction. The cellular responses in this mechanism are expressed by a modification in cellular proliferation, migration and differentiation, as well as in a strengthening of their adhesion. Likewise, diseases such as cancer and cardiac dysfunctions are also related to cellular mechanotransduction. Here we propose to take a novel 3D material porous material towards commercial applications. The material serves as a platform for controlling mechanotransduction (e.g. in implant materials) and enables a control of mechanotransduction by mimicking natural 3D cellular environments. Our material contains a novel form of microporous structures represented by micron-sized channels embedded in a polymer matrix of a well-defined stiffness that has been developed within the ERC project CELLINSPIRED. The material guarantees pore interconnectivity independently of pore density and size, a unique feature offered by our fabrication procedure, for which we have applied for a patent (EP 15166793.8, PCT/EP2016/060160). Furthermore, it also provides a large, three-dimensionally controlled cell-surface contact area, such that the mechanical properties of the environment will have large impact on the cells. Our goal in this project is to validate our novel material for cellular applications where mechanotransduction is targeted. The expected outcome of our project is to receive a demonstrator material that (1) has well-defined mechanical properties, porosities and pore dimensions, (2) is biocompatible and can be sterilized, (3) can be fabricated in different levels of complexity, (4) can activate mechanotransduction in cells, and (5) can be fabricated using high-throughput processes. As for commercialization, we aim to license the patent to biomaterials companies involved in applications that range from 3D cell cultures to implant materials.

SummaryPersonalized medicine aspires to provide optimal therapy in real-time during patient treatment, however current methodology falls short to deliver this in a robust manner. With this in mind, we invented a method for the screening of thousands of drug responses in small samples of an individual’s peripheral blood by automated microscopy and single-cell image analysis. We termed this method pharmacoscopy. In the course of carrying out the i-FIVE ERC grant project plan, we began screening for novel anti-viral or immune modulating drugs. In the quest to increase the physiological relevance of our screening settings, we investigated the possibility of using peripheral blood cells or bone marrow from individuals. We have thus far been able to show that the approach allows for the screening of anti-inflammatory properties of compounds, and to score for distinct sub-population specific cell cytotoxicity profiles of clinical anti-neoplastic agents through the tracking of fluorescent antibodies and probes. Moreover, we have been able to show that the approach empowers the therapeutic decision-making capability of hema-oncologists in a concrete clinical setting using primary myelofibrosis and lymphoma as test diseases. With funding from this grant, we intend to obtain further clinical data through retrospective trials, and incorporate the results into an information package attractive enough to draw the attention of potential investors. We have secured the intellectual property rights and have assembled the know-how required to enable commercialization efforts. With the unique image-based single cell analysis of human liquid tissues, we believe that chemos has the potential to develop into a service that enables and advances personalized medicine and drug discovery for a broad spectrum of hematological disorders.

Personalized medicine aspires to provide optimal therapy in real-time during patient treatment, however current methodology falls short to deliver this in a robust manner. With this in mind, we invented a method for the screening of thousands of drug responses in small samples of an individual’s peripheral blood by automated microscopy and single-cell image analysis. We termed this method pharmacoscopy. In the course of carrying out the i-FIVE ERC grant project plan, we began screening for novel anti-viral or immune modulating drugs. In the quest to increase the physiological relevance of our screening settings, we investigated the possibility of using peripheral blood cells or bone marrow from individuals. We have thus far been able to show that the approach allows for the screening of anti-inflammatory properties of compounds, and to score for distinct sub-population specific cell cytotoxicity profiles of clinical anti-neoplastic agents through the tracking of fluorescent antibodies and probes. Moreover, we have been able to show that the approach empowers the therapeutic decision-making capability of hema-oncologists in a concrete clinical setting using primary myelofibrosis and lymphoma as test diseases. With funding from this grant, we intend to obtain further clinical data through retrospective trials, and incorporate the results into an information package attractive enough to draw the attention of potential investors. We have secured the intellectual property rights and have assembled the know-how required to enable commercialization efforts. With the unique image-based single cell analysis of human liquid tissues, we believe that chemos has the potential to develop into a service that enables and advances personalized medicine and drug discovery for a broad spectrum of hematological disorders.

Max ERC Funding

146 668 €

Duration

Start date: 2016-10-01, End date: 2017-09-30

Project acronymCHEMREACTIONSCAN

ProjectScanner for novel chemical reactions

Researcher (PI)Alexander NESTEROV-MULLER

Host Institution (HI)KARLSRUHER INSTITUT FUER TECHNOLOGIE

Call DetailsProof of Concept (PoC), ERC-2017-PoC

SummaryFunded by the ERC-Starting Grant COMBIPATTERNING, we have developed a novel nanolayer-based synthesis based on patterning different materials with laser radiation in form of a pan-cake spots in array format. Our synthesis robot can do it for many different materials, for >40.000 spots per glass slide, in exactly defined stoichiometries, and for <200 € costs. The robot uses short laser pulses to transfer <1ng “punched-out” material per spot from a donor foil to a synthesis slide. Then, the reactants embedded in the nano thin polymer pan-cake spots can mix with each other and thus undergo chemical reactions by heating the synthesis slide. Due to the large progress in MALDI imaging and the fluorescent scanners, the results of the reactions can be analyzed in the same array format. The masses found by MALDI imaging in some spots might help us to identify unknown chemical reactions. We believe that the nanolayer-based synthesis developed by us might be a basis for future chemistry stations linking scientists and accelerating their studies to screen for novel chemical reactions in a high throughput manner. Instead of studying the interaction between reactants in a single test glass, the chemists will just spin-coat their educts on microscope slides and supply them together with a file for desired reactant combinations to the server - chemical reaction scanner. Therefore, we want to verify the innovation potential of the nanolayer-based synthesis that should find a market where a novel synthesis strategy on combining novel building blocks should be developed, especially, in the field of novel bioactive chemicals and fluorophores.

Funded by the ERC-Starting Grant COMBIPATTERNING, we have developed a novel nanolayer-based synthesis based on patterning different materials with laser radiation in form of a pan-cake spots in array format. Our synthesis robot can do it for many different materials, for >40.000 spots per glass slide, in exactly defined stoichiometries, and for <200 € costs. The robot uses short laser pulses to transfer <1ng “punched-out” material per spot from a donor foil to a synthesis slide. Then, the reactants embedded in the nano thin polymer pan-cake spots can mix with each other and thus undergo chemical reactions by heating the synthesis slide. Due to the large progress in MALDI imaging and the fluorescent scanners, the results of the reactions can be analyzed in the same array format. The masses found by MALDI imaging in some spots might help us to identify unknown chemical reactions. We believe that the nanolayer-based synthesis developed by us might be a basis for future chemistry stations linking scientists and accelerating their studies to screen for novel chemical reactions in a high throughput manner. Instead of studying the interaction between reactants in a single test glass, the chemists will just spin-coat their educts on microscope slides and supply them together with a file for desired reactant combinations to the server - chemical reaction scanner. Therefore, we want to verify the innovation potential of the nanolayer-based synthesis that should find a market where a novel synthesis strategy on combining novel building blocks should be developed, especially, in the field of novel bioactive chemicals and fluorophores.

Max ERC Funding

149 875 €

Duration

Start date: 2017-11-01, End date: 2019-04-30

Project acronymChildCogn

ProjectNovel solutions for assessing child cognitive function

Researcher (PI)Jukka Mattias LeppAEnen

Host Institution (HI)TAMPEREEN YLIOPISTO

Call DetailsProof of Concept (PoC), PC1, ERC-2014-PoC

SummaryAn important responsibility of primary health care in most societies is to conduct regular check-ups of children’s physical, cognitive, and social development, and to identify problems at an early stage to arrange for appropriate support and special care. Whereas well-validated methods exist for monitoring physical growth (e.g., WHO growth standards), there is a lack of standardized methods for monitoring other key aspects of early development (e.g., cognitive development). The present project examines the possibilities to develop novel solutions for assessing children's cognitive function. The project activities are aimed at developing the concept of new types of cognitive assessment techniques, testing of a prototype, and surveying end-user experiences and potential markets for the prototype.

An important responsibility of primary health care in most societies is to conduct regular check-ups of children’s physical, cognitive, and social development, and to identify problems at an early stage to arrange for appropriate support and special care. Whereas well-validated methods exist for monitoring physical growth (e.g., WHO growth standards), there is a lack of standardized methods for monitoring other key aspects of early development (e.g., cognitive development). The present project examines the possibilities to develop novel solutions for assessing children's cognitive function. The project activities are aimed at developing the concept of new types of cognitive assessment techniques, testing of a prototype, and surveying end-user experiences and potential markets for the prototype.

SummaryThis proposal aims at bringing to the market a revolutionary device to uniquely identify the chirality of molecules. An object is chiral if it differs from its mirror image, like our left and right hands. Chirality plays an extremely important role in two main fields: (1) Many drugs are chiral and selecting one of the two forms often enables the pharma industry to extend patent franchise, thus increasing profitability, and to improve the quality, safety and efficacy of the drug. (2) Researchers in the chemistry and biophysics labs use chirality as an indication of the 3D structural conformation of proteins and DNA, to study e.g. their secondary structure and stability under external stimuli. Spectrometers for measuring chirality already exist in the market. Many customers in the two aforementioned sectors could be interested in the new product we propose because it presents several advantages, namely a 2-fold reduction of the price, a 4-fold shrinking of the footprint and an increased information content. The ground-breaking concept (under patenting) behind this new spectrometer is to employ an ultra-stable interferometer to measure the chiral spectrum of molecules via a Fourier-transform approach and a heterodyne amplification of the signal. A first working prototype has already been realized and tested. The CHIMERA project has two main goals. (1) We aim at unleashing the innovation potential of the approach, by technically validating two prototypes in a pharmaceutical company and a biochemistry research lab, thus pushing the Technology Readiness Level of the system to the ultimate maturity required to approach the market, corresponding to TRL9. (2) We will design a complete exploitation plan, performing a thorough analysis of the market, developing a financing strategy, benchmarking our instrument against the competitors’ ones, profiling strategic partners and drafting a first version of a Business Plan to decide on the opportunity to found a start-up company.

This proposal aims at bringing to the market a revolutionary device to uniquely identify the chirality of molecules. An object is chiral if it differs from its mirror image, like our left and right hands. Chirality plays an extremely important role in two main fields: (1) Many drugs are chiral and selecting one of the two forms often enables the pharma industry to extend patent franchise, thus increasing profitability, and to improve the quality, safety and efficacy of the drug. (2) Researchers in the chemistry and biophysics labs use chirality as an indication of the 3D structural conformation of proteins and DNA, to study e.g. their secondary structure and stability under external stimuli. Spectrometers for measuring chirality already exist in the market. Many customers in the two aforementioned sectors could be interested in the new product we propose because it presents several advantages, namely a 2-fold reduction of the price, a 4-fold shrinking of the footprint and an increased information content. The ground-breaking concept (under patenting) behind this new spectrometer is to employ an ultra-stable interferometer to measure the chiral spectrum of molecules via a Fourier-transform approach and a heterodyne amplification of the signal. A first working prototype has already been realized and tested. The CHIMERA project has two main goals. (1) We aim at unleashing the innovation potential of the approach, by technically validating two prototypes in a pharmaceutical company and a biochemistry research lab, thus pushing the Technology Readiness Level of the system to the ultimate maturity required to approach the market, corresponding to TRL9. (2) We will design a complete exploitation plan, performing a thorough analysis of the market, developing a financing strategy, benchmarking our instrument against the competitors’ ones, profiling strategic partners and drafting a first version of a Business Plan to decide on the opportunity to found a start-up company.